In 1800, Davy thought silicon to be a compound, but in 1811, Gay Lussac and Thenard probably created impure amorphous silicon by heating potassium with silicon tetrafluoride.
In 1824, Berzelius prepared amorphous silicon by the same method, and purified the product by removing the salt of fluosilicic acid by repeated washings. Deville in 1854 first prepared crystalline silicon, the second cystalline structural form of the element. It was first found in Stockholm, Sweden.
Properties:
Boiling Point: 2355.0 °C
Melting Point: 1414.0 °C
Freezing Point:1410°C
Color: Grey-Black
Structure: Crystalized Cubic
Most Common State: Solid
Appearance: Amorphous silicon is a brown powder, and crystalline silicon is a grey color with a metallic luster. Density at 293 K: 2.329 g/cm3
Classification: Mettaloid
Modern Uses and Locations:
Silicon was found by Berzelius in Sweeden.
It is a very common element, it is the most abundant element in Earth's crust. (Therefore it is found all over the world!)
In the form of sand and clay, Silicon is used to make concrete and brick.
In the form of silicates it is used to make pottery and enamel. S
ilica (a sand) can be used to make glass.
Silicon is also an important ingredient in steel.
It is used as a semiconductor to make microchips for electronics (like your computer).
Silicon is also used in solar cells, tools, cement, grease and oils.
Quick Facts:
Atomic Number: 14 Mass Number: 28
Silicon is the second most abundant element in earth's crust. (Common)
Has 3 stable isotopes: 28, 29, and 30.
Regular Grade Silicon costs about $.50/gram
99.9% pure Silicon costs about $50/pound
Hyperpure Silicon can cost as much as $100/ounce
The name Silicon comes from the Latin word for flint: silex.
Table of Contents
Jing Screen Cast:
History:
In 1800, Davy thought silicon to be a compound, but in 1811, Gay Lussac and Thenard probably created impure amorphous silicon by heating potassium with silicon tetrafluoride.In 1824, Berzelius prepared amorphous silicon by the same method, and purified the product by removing the salt of fluosilicic acid by repeated washings. Deville in 1854 first prepared crystalline silicon, the second cystalline structural form of the element. It was first found in Stockholm, Sweden.
Properties:
Boiling Point: 2355.0 °CMelting Point: 1414.0 °C
Freezing Point:1410°C
Color: Grey-Black
Structure: Crystalized Cubic
Most Common State: Solid
Appearance: Amorphous silicon is a brown powder, and crystalline silicon is a grey color with a metallic luster.
Density at 293 K: 2.329 g/cm3
Classification: Mettaloid
Modern Uses and Locations:
Silicon was found by Berzelius in Sweeden.It is a very common element, it is the most abundant element in Earth's crust. (Therefore it is found all over the world!)
In the form of sand and clay, Silicon is used to make concrete and brick.
In the form of silicates it is used to make pottery and enamel. S
ilica (a sand) can be used to make glass.
Silicon is also an important ingredient in steel.
It is used as a semiconductor to make microchips for electronics (like your computer).
Silicon is also used in solar cells, tools, cement, grease and oils.
Quick Facts:
Atomic Number: 14Mass Number: 28
Silicon is the second most abundant element in earth's crust. (Common)
Has 3 stable isotopes: 28, 29, and 30.
Regular Grade Silicon costs about $.50/gram
99.9% pure Silicon costs about $50/pound
Hyperpure Silicon can cost as much as $100/ounce
The name Silicon comes from the Latin word for flint: silex.
Images:
Thanks to Le Pimento for the picture.
Sites:
Bentor, Yinon. "Silicon." Chemical Elements. 8 Nov. 2008 <http://www.chemicalelements.com/elements/si.html>.
Gagnon, Steve. "Silicon." It's Elemental. Jefferson Lab. 9 Nov. 2008 <http://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele014.html>.
Le Pimento. "silicon_silicium." Creative Commons. Flickr. 16 Nov. 2008 <http://www.flickr.com/photos/lepimento/2813057492/>.
"Silcon." 15 Dec. 2003. University of California for the U.S. Department of Energy. 9 Nov. 2008 <http://periodic.lanl.gov/elements/14.html>.
"Silicon." The Gayle Encyclopedia of Science. 3rd ed. 2004.
"Silicon." Periodic Table of Elements. Radiochemestry Society. 8 Nov. 2008 <http://www.radiochemistry.org/periodictable/elements/14.html>.
Visual Elements:Silicon. Chem soc. 9 Nov. 2008 <http://www.rsc.org/chemsoc/visualelements/PAGES/data/silicon_data.html>.